Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services celebrates International Day of Rural Women

The Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services said on 16 October 2026 that it celebrates the pivotal role of rural women in sustainable development on the International Day of Rural Women. The organization said it values their contributions to building communities capable of facing challenges. The slogan for 2026 is "Rural women preserve our natural resources".

The organization said it works annually with approximately 35,000 women and girls in the agribusiness sector to remove obstacles to fair access to opportunities and resources, enhance their ability to own productive assets, and develop their economic skills and potential. Through its Local Development Unit, the organization said it focuses on strengthening the role of rural women and empowering them economically and socially due to challenges like multidimensional poverty and limited access to resources and economic opportunities for women and girls in rural areas.

The organization said that opportunities for rural women to obtain land, financing, and agricultural production supplies, and to access more profitable markets and agricultural and food value chains, are lower than those for men in rural areas and women in urban areas. The organization said rural women face increasing burdens from poverty, social exclusion, and the repercussions of climate change.

The organization said that empowering rural women improves their ability to lead positive change in local communities and contribute to food security and the protection and sustainability of natural resources.